2013 Wedding Season has come to an end...

We celebrated the last two weddings of the 2013 season on Saturday. Yes, we went out with a double-hitter! One wedding of 150 people at The Contented Sole and one of 45 at the Inn. 

The Contented Sole held it's first civil union celebration complete with gourmet pizzas, passed chowder, oysters, music and libations. Adorned in aqua and orange the Sole transformed into a magical vibrant venue.

Back at the Inn a ceremony was held at the Lighthouse followed by a reception featuring passed hors d'oeuvres of Lobster Mac-n-Cheese, Lobster BLTS, Flatbread with Pear Blue Cheese and Balsamic, and Mini Crab and Lobster Cakes. Guests then sat for a Butternut Squash Soup served in munchkin pumpkins, a Salad of Greens and Roasted beets. Dinner entrees were Halibut over Risotto, Short Ribs over Polenta with a Bordelaise Sauce and a Mushroom Fettucini for those in the mood for a vegetarian dish.

From May until October 12th everyone worked to make each and every couple's dreams come true, their guests feel welcomed and pampered and their taste bud tantalized.

Are we exhausted? Of course! Are we excited about the 2014 Season - you bet!

If you've contacted us to book your wedding next year, we thank you. If you would like to book your wedding, do so soon. Weekends are disappearing and Spring will be here before we know it.

October: Leaf Season and Pumpkin Fest

Last week we jumped to Thanksgiving, but we need to back up a bit and enjoy what Maine is offering right now.

Leaf season is underway! In New Harbor the leaves are beginning to change and peak season will be the first three weeks in October.

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/peak-foliage-forecast-map/

Come visit The Bradley Inn for a few days, cruise around taking in Autumn's display of vibrant colors. Make use of the Midcoasts' abundant hiking trails to hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and feel the clean fresh Maine air in your lungs.

http://www.visit-maine.com/walking-and-hiking/midcoast

Pumpkinfest in Damariscotta is from October 5th - 14th this year with non-stop pumpkin entertainment, a parade, giant pumpkin growing contest, Zombie Run, Pumpkin Catapult, Pumpkin Express Train Rides and more culminating with the Pumpkin Regatta Race with courageous folks who carve out giant pumpkins and race down them Damariscotta Tidal River. For real!!


http://damariscottapumpkinfest.com/PEvents.html

Whatever your daytime adventures are, save room for an amazing meal.

Our dining room is open every evening except Tuesdays and for a more casual dining experience try our Tavern / Chart Room. Our dinner and pub menus are available anywhere you dine with us. Our wine is designed to meet any taste and our knowledgeable staff can assist in pairing your food and wine.

After dinner retire to your comfortable room and drift away with thoughts of a hot delicious breakfast waiting for you in the morning.



We think fall is the perfect time to unwind from the excitement of summer, relax and just enjoy the moment. We think you'll find The Bradley Inn the perfect place to do just that!

Make your reservations now... www.bradleyinn.com

Thanksgiving Feast at the Inn!

Once again it is time to start the discussions of Thanksgiving Day. Where to spend Thanksgiving?Who is bringing what? How many people can you cram into your dining room? Where is the good china? Is it too late to run away to Fiji?

Don't run away to Fiji. Forget about the good china! Never mind trying to squeeze everyone into your house, spending all week preparing dishes and rising at 4am to muscle Tom Turkey into the oven. Then find everyone gobbles down their meal in 15 minutes and you are left with achy feet and a pile of dishes. Not this year!

Let The Bradley Inn be your Thanksgiving destination. Remember what you are thankful for and relax instead of trying to figure out if everything is on the table and that the smoke you smell is the rolls you forgot about in the oven. (yes we've all done it.)

Our family style meal is priced at $50 per person and includes the following:

Amuse - Chef's choice
Appetizers 3-5 choices
Traditional Turkey and Accompaniments
Additional Entrees of Meat or Fish
Dessert - sampler

And no kitchen duty!

Seating is limited so please call to make your reservations - you will love Thanksgiving at The Bradley Inn!

(207)677-2105

Summer countdown....

It' now August 20th and according to the calendar Summer has another month but we know the wind changes at the end of this week bringing with it cooler temperatures. We've already spotted leaves changing. We're not sad about Autumn's arrival, in fact we love Autumn, leaves a blaze, fires burning, pumpkin everything and sweaters. We're sad because saying goodbye to summer means saying goodbye to some of our staff - the kids, young adults is probably a better term, but to us they are 'the kids.' Good kids, hard working kids, funny kids and kids who leave with skills and the knowledge of what hard work is and the value of a dollar.

The college and high school kids work at both The Contented Sole and The Bradley Inn, waiting, bar tending, back serving, washing dishes and cooking. They work weddings, rehearsal dinners and brunches. They arrive for breakfast early and those working dinner stay late. They take pride in what they do and positive feedback makes them swell with pride and try their hardest.

The learning curve is steep and sharp. Mistakes are made, but they learn from them and all in all the guests are treated like gold.

The 'new to the industry kids' learn how to run  dishwasher, take orders, how to serve food customers, how to clear tables and  how to how to engage in meaningful conversation to make the guest feel welcome. We watch them develop and bloom and then like the flowers of summer, they are gone. It was just May!

We wish you all the very best!! Study hard, be safe and we'll miss you Griffin, Katrina, Mara, Annie, Tara, Lauren, Luke, Jacob, Alex, Annabelle, Ashlee, Jesse, Miles, Kevin, Preston, Steven and Claudia.

With love,

The sad and proud adults.

The finest ingredients makes for fine food....

As you can imagine with summer is in full swing the restaurant at the Bradley Inn is serving lots of food to lots of guests. Deliveries come rolling in, dairy, produce, seafood, duck, ground lamb, liquor and as fast as it arrives it is stowed away neatly in its proper place and then whipped into fantastic creations and gobbled up by happy diners.

Even Keel's peas and tomatoes

Yesterday I was anxiously awaiting the dairy delivery. We were out of heavy cream and crème brulee is nothing if not made with heavy cream, neither is homemade vanilla bean ice cream. The green truck pulled into the drive and in came the cartons, heavy cream, half and half and the glorious butter. I hadn't noticed before, but the butter was from Cabot Creamery in Vermont. It isn't a generic lowest cost butter and while it may not seem like a big deal, it makes all the difference.

Pemaquid Oysters

Beth & Warren's philosophy of the best ingredients and local whenever possible sets a level of quality that resonates through the staff, into the food and onto the plates of our guests. Using local ingredients which change with the season and harvesting means adapting and refining menu items or featuring a special focusing on what's in at the moment. Watching and listening to the discussions of how to use each ingredient to elevate it to its highest potential is an insight into culinary genius.

There is no microwave in the kitchen, there is no Crisco. We go through a case of eggs each week from Bowden farm in Waldoboro Maine and if we've had a run on the crème brulee or ice cream we'll need more. Smokey from Pemaquid Oysters shows up with bags of briny delights.
Sarah of Even Keel Farm comes on Fridays with bags of mixed greens in which she has edible flower petals (we LOVE edible flowers!) fresh basil, carrots, beans - all from her organic farm just a few miles away. And who could not mention the lobsters that come from Pemaquid Lobster Co-op? Nothing wows the tourists at The Contented Sole more than watching Warren or Bytza take the boat across the harbor to buy lobsters bring them back and haul them up the dock. No questioning freshness there!

Pemaquid Lobster Co-op

The best, freshest, local ingredients result in a standard of food integrity that is unmatched. We invite you to experience a delicious meal that will have you closing your eyes in delight with each bite.

The extra mile....

We are amidst the fun frenzy of wedding season! The past two weekends were filled with three weddings, yes three! Just this weekend we had a rehearsal dinner lobster bake at The Contented Sole, the reception for that wedding at the Inn and another wedding reception at The Contented Sole. The previous weekend was a rehearsal lobster bake at the Inn, a wedding reception at The Contented Sole oh and a wedding shower at The Sole as well. Phew!

The attention to detail, small touches and effort that everyone puts forth for each event is amazing. Here are just some examples:

• Delivering crudité, lime cucumber water with rose petals and sandwiches to the bridal party as they get hair and makeup done for the big event.
• A basket of hair pins, mouth wash, baby powder and other girly 'may needs' in the ladies room.
• Walking the bride to her chariot with a umbrella to shield her from the rain.
• Surprising the couple with the tables they wanted as a gift.
• Saying yes to making a special breakfast for the bride and groom the next day because they want to be the bride and groom for a little bit longer.
• Retrieving a last minute 'sweetheart table' for the happy couple.
• Climbing onto the roof to get into a room for a locked out guest 1/2 hour before the wedding!

As a guest at an event at The Inn or The Sole, you look around and everything is picture perfect and beautiful. Behind the scenes it is reminiscent of the characters in Beauty and The Beast a flurry of activity and everyone in 6th gear trying their hardest. This is clearly a result of Beth and Warren setting an example of hard work and dedication. They pour their hearts and souls into each event and yet somehow manage to compliment the staff, even in the busiest of times, on how terrific they are doing. It makes everyone work that much harder to achieve the very best.

Yes, by the end of the weekend we are all exhausted, but smiling and ready for the next big event!

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day - especially on vacation!

Let's talk breakfast.

During the hustle and bustle of everyday, breakfast is usually fuel grabbed on the run or maybe nothing at all. When you are on vacation breakfast is something to treasure. You have the time, someone else is making it - what's not to love?

Inn guests are treated to a continental breakfast starting at 7:45. Imagine if you will a coffee station setup with piping hot strong coffee, raw sugar cubes, cream. .. tea? Certainly. English Breakfast? Earl Grey? Chamomile? Honeybush? Another table with from scratch scones or cinnamon rolls dripping with cream cheese frosting, yogurt, homemade granola, fresh fruit, pecan nut bread and baguettes with cheese, maybe smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs. But save room!
                                

Have a seat at one of the breakfast tables, set with coffee bean bag burlap over white table cloths for a country inn comfortable setting. The wait staff will take juice orders and let you know what the hot breakfast special is of the day - you can always get eggs to your liking.

The specials range from Wild Maine Blueberry Pancakes to Eggs Benedict with Lobster Hollandaise to Breakfast Bread Pudding, Fritatas, Buttermilk Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, Breakfast Sandwich of Fried Egg, Mozzarella, Mortadella & Tomato Relish, Egg Cups with Bacon and Goat Cheese, French Toast - you never know!

Your breakfast comes presented with great care to detail and decorated with edible flowers or fresh herbs. If you watch outside early, you might catch the breakfast chef picking rose petals or pansies or chives. Often guests will remark, "Oh how beautiful!" The compliments don't stop at the view. The food is just delicious.

Special dietary needs? We understand. Gluten free products are available and have come a long way. Thankfully our Gluten Free guests have tasty options as well! It is always nice to provide the same pampering to folks who normally struggle to find acceptable options, let alone delicious! We also do incredible omelets with tomato, basil and Parmesan or goat cheese and mixed herbs or something we create just for you!

Whether you have a day of site seeing, hiking or just resting, we start you off with a hearty breakfast and a warm smile. We love what we do! Let us pamper you.